Catalan Clashes Expose Usual Splits in Balkans

While some politicians who support regional autonomy in the Balkans have come out in support of the Catalan referendum, most national governments - wary of separatism in their own countries - have lined up behind Spain.

Supporters and opponents of Catalonia's right to hold an independence referendum from Spain have emerged on forseeable lines in the Balkans.

Nenad Canak, head of the League Social Democrats of Vojvodina, LSV, a party that advocates more autonomy for the northern province of Serbia, said his party supported the Catalans' right to stage a vote on independence.

"Catalan citizens must have the right to vote in the referendum according to the constitution of Spain," a written statement on Sunday said.

He underlined that if the referendum showed that a majority sought the independence of Catalonia "it is necessary to start a public debate within Spain on amending the [Spanish] constitution".

Zastave Katalonije u #NoviSad #NoviBečej #Kovačica @Esquerra_ERC @EUPARTYEFA pic.twitter.com/ojHlgAuAfv

— LSV (@VOJVODINA_LSV) October 1, 2017

On the day of the Catalan referendum, LSV supporters hung the flag of Catalonia in several towns in Vojvodina.

On the night between Saturday and Sunday, another movement, Young Vojvodina, painted graffiti saying "Catalonia = Vojvodina" in several towns in Vojvodina.

While the LSV demands more autonomy for Vojvodina, Serbian nationalists see this as a threat to the country's unity and often call it a "separatist" party.

The far-right Serbian League issued a press release calling the pro-Catalan graffiti "a separatist and criminal act". In a "message to all separatists", it said: "Vojvodina is Serbia, never Catalonia."